Rabid Bobcat attacks men near Prescott Valley

A rabid bobcat attacked two men last week near Prescott Valley, AZ while they were out quail hunting (read the full story HERE). It had been acting a little suspicious, primarily by not being scared of them when they first saw it, which can be a tell tale sign of a potentially rabid animal. Through they were eventually able to kill the rabid bobcat, both men were injured with lacerations, punctures, and scratches to their heads, necks, backs, arms, and legs, but they were later treated for their wounds, including rabies, and will make full recoveries. Here in Northern Arizona, it seems that our rabid animal attacks usually revolve around gray foxes, bobcats, and mountain lions, so it's especially important to be wary of those predators when you encounter them in the wild. We can't forget the bobcat who walked into a bar in Cottonwood, or the mountain lion who was whacked with a frying pan near Bloody Basin. And of course there's the gray fox who bit the woman while she jogged near Granite Mountain, and then the fox was then held in place on that very arm by the victim as she ran back to her car, threw the fox in the trunk, and then drove to the hospital for treatment. There are even more wild stories about rabid animals attacking people in Northern Arizona that I could share, but let's take a look at how to spot and deal with rabid animals, instead:

• Be wary of animals who are acting odd, such as wild animals who are not afraid of you, nocturnal animals who are out during the day, or bats who are laying on the ground. Rabid animals will sometimes appear almost "drunk" as they struggle with balance and coordination.
• During the early stages of rabies, rabid animals usually act aggressive towards just about anything - I have personally watched a rabid gray fox attack a pine tree. Be ready to defend yourself with any tools you have at your disposal, including your bare hands, rocks, big sticks, knives, backpacks/purses, and of course, firearms.
• During the last stage of rabies, which is just before death, rabid animals may be also uncharacteristically timid or lethargic, such as a domestic pet who hides from you, won't let you pet it, or won't get up or move around.
• Rabid animals do not "foam at the mouth" like they do in the movies, and even if they do, it's not nearly as dramatic. That being said, rabies is transmitted through saliva, and the reason that it is reported that rabid animals "foam at the mouth" is because the throat and facial muscles become paralyzed in the later stages of rabies, which means that the infected animal cannot swallow.
• Report any rabid animals, dead or alive, to your local Game and Fish department. DO NOT TOUCH rabid animals, especially without protective equipment.
• If you've been bitten by an animal, wild or domestic, immediately wash the wound with soap and water and then get treated for rabies at the nearest emergency room. An animal does not have to be "rabid" to transmit the rabies virus. If possible, capture or kill the animal that bit you so that it can be tested for rabies.
• Rabies is a deadly disease, and the most commonly infected animals in the U.S. are bats, raccoons, skunks, foxes, and coyotes. The most common domestic animal rabies infections come from cats, which are nearly double that of domestic dog infections.
• Get your pets vaccinated! Even your horses and other livestock can get rabies, which will kill them if they are not properly vaccinated, as well as potentially spread the virus to other animals.

Be safe out there, and Happy Hunting!